Attachment for vacuum or suction cleaning apparatus.



G. D. RUEDELS. HMENT FOR VACUUM 0R SUC'HON CLEANING APPARATUS.

Patented July 6, 1915.

ATTAC APPLICATION 111w MAR. 15. 1911.

. The invention relates to GEORGE D. ROEDELS, OF PALISADE, NEW JERSEY.

ATTACHMENT FOR VACUUM OR SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 15, 1911.

To all w/aom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon D. ROEDELS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palisade, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Attachments for Vacuum or Suction Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification attachments for use in connection with vacuum or suction cleaning apparatus for pneumatically cleaning or polishing floors, walls, ceilings, carpets, draperies, furniture or the like.

he object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of devices'for pneumatically cleaning or polishing floors, ceilings, walls, carpets, draperies, furniture or the like, and to render the same more eflicient.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred to which is capable i of being readily applied to the suction heads of different types and constructions of showing a slightly vacuum cleaning apparatus.

A further object is to provide an attachment of the character referred to which provides means to prevent furniture, floors, walls, ceilings or the like from becoming marred or injured by the attachment striking thereagainst when in use.

A further object is to provide a device of the nature and character referred to which is substantial, strong and durable, and not liable to get out of proper working order when in use.

Other. objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, con'ibinatiou, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,-l igure 1 is a view in perspective, the handle being broken off, of a construction of attachment embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view invertical transverse section on the .line 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a view in top plan, the handle or neck portion being in horizontal section, and parts broken out and in section, modified construction embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of theconstruction shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view in vertical trans- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1%115. Serial No. 614,561.

verse section on the line 5, 5, Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a broken view in vertical longitudinal section on the line 6, 6, Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to obviate defects existing in certain types of vacuum cleaners and in carrying out my invention I propose to provide the entrance slot into the hollow head, and through which the dust, dirt or the like is drawn by the suction action, at the bound ing edges of the flat face of the head, and consequently at points in advance of the fiat face of the head where the suction action may be exerted through the slot and upon the surface to be cleaned in advance of the movement of the Hat face of. the head over such surface. I also propose to provide the slot or opening at the bounding edge of the flat face of the head both front and rear, so that no matter in which direction the head is moved the suction a vtion is exerted upon the dust, dirt or the like in advance of the movement of the head. I also propose to provide means whereby the suction draft into the head is exerted upon dust or dirt lying on the floor, for instance, in a. direction which approaches parallelism with the plane of the floor at least in a region closely adjacent to the entrance into the head. I also propose to provide means for preventing the head, or the outer surfaces of the side edges thereof from scarring or mar-ring furniture or other articles with which they mayrome in contact while the device is in use.

The features of my invention as above outlined may be embodied in a wide variety of specifically different structures and arrangements of details, without departure from the spirit and scope of my invention. \Vhile, therefore, I have shown and will now describe various operative and practical embodiments and forms of devices my invention, in its broadest scope as defined in the claims, is not to be limited or restricted to the specific construction and arrangement of details shown.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and a head or member 10 is employed. This maybe of the usual or any suitable shape or contour, and is made hollow, as indicated at 11, a soclret or neck 12, Communicating inner surface of the side pieces of frame 26 with the interior of the hollow head and af-v to form the channels or spaces 30. The fording means for attaching the usual tulower face of the facing 29, extends slightly bular handle 13, by which thehead is carbelow the lower edge surface 31, o the ried or manipulated in the operation the frame side pieces 26, as clearly shown, so 70 device, or for attaching the hose or other that when the under face of the plate or its connection to the vacuum or suction producfacing rests flat upon a surface to be cleane ing mechanism in the ordinary manner. the lower edges of the frame 26, are rai Suitably supported within the chamber of slightly above said surface. A strip 32 o the hollow head is a plate 14, lying in a suitable material such as cloth, fabric, rub'- 5 plane substantially parallel with the plane her, or other flexible or-resilient material is of the lower edge of the head and presentapplied to the outer surface of the, sides 0 ing a flat face to rest upon the surface to be frame 26, and so arranged that the lower cleaned. This platemay be faced on its edge thereof extends slightly below the lower 5 under surface with felt, cloth, fabric or edge of the side pieces of frame 26, but not so other material, as indicated at 15, according to the plane of the fiat face of the plate 28 r to the uses and purposes to which the device or its facing 29, as clearly shown. is to be put. The plate 14, may be supported The opposed surfaces of the edges of the within the chambpr in any suitable or conplate 28 and its facing and the inner surface venient manner, as, for instance, by means of the frame 26, are correspondingly bev- 35 of struts or cross pieces 16 secured to or eled as shown. formed with the frame of the head. In ac The attachment comprising the hollow cordance with my invention I so arrange frame 26, and the parts attached thereto, and support the plate 14 within the chamber may be readily and easily applied to the of the head that the under face of the facing head 21, in any suitable or convenient man- 9o 15 thereof, in case a facing is applied there-- ner. I have shown a simple arrangement to, and which face rests upon the surface wherein the cross pieces 27, which support to be cleaned, extends below the lower surplate 28, have secured thereto suitable spring face 17 of the bounding side edge of the clips 35, adapted to'snap into or through the head frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. I slot 25, in the head 21. If desired a suitable 95 also support the plate 14 in ofi-set relation packing strip 37, may be placed between the with respect to the inner side walls of the frame 26 and the lower face of head 21. head, thereby providing the longitudinal By reason of the fact that the lower face slots or spaces 18, between the peripheral of the facing 15, 29, extends below the lower edges of the plate and its facing and the insurface 17, 31, of the edge of the frame 10, 100

ner surface of the side walls of the head 26, the suction action of the apparatus is apframe. I also propose to apply a strip 19 plied to the dust or dirt on the surface to be of flexible material such as cloth, fabric, cleaned in substantially the plane of,'or a rubber or the like, to the exterior surface of plane parallel with, the said surface. The r 40 the sides of the head frame and I arrange extension of the lower edge of the flexible 105 the'lo'wer edge of the strip 19 to extend strip 19, 32, below the surface 17, 31, of somewhat below the surface 17, of the sides the sides of frame 10, 26, secures this acof the head frame, as indicated at 20. tion. The upwardly and inwardly incline It may sometimes be desirable to apply a opposed surfaces of the frame and the pe- 5 device embodying my invention as a separipheral edges of plate and its facing facili- 12H rate detachable attachment to the heads of tates the passage of particles of dust, dirt suction apparatus at present in use, whereby and the like into the interior of the head unthe attachment may be made and sold as a der the influence of suction action. The" separate article of manufacture instead of provision of the spacesor openings 18, 30,

being incorporated into the structure 0 the all the way around the peripheral edges of, 11 head itself. In Figs. 8, t, 5 and 6, I have the plate 14, 28, and the facing 15, 29, shown such an embodiment of my invention, thereof enables the dust, dirt or the like to the head proper comprising the body 21, be drawn into the head from in front of the having. the neck 22, for the hollow handle, head as it advances ,over the surface to be hose or other connection 23, said body being cleaned, thereby insuring a most efficient .hollow as at 24. In this case, however, the cleaning action of the suction apparatus. under face of the closed hollow head is pro- Having now set forth the object and navided with the usual central elongated openture of my invention, and. constructions ing 25. The attachment comprises an open embodying the principles thereof, what hollow frame or member 26, which may be claim as new and useful, and of my own in.- of any suitable contour or shape having sevention, and desire to secure by Letters Patcured thereto or formed therewith the cross tent is,-

pieces 27, to form supports for the plate 28, 1. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a holto which'the facing 29 is'applied, the plate low member having the chamber thereo 55 28 and its facing 29 being off-set from the adapted to'be placed in communication with said hollow a vacuum producing means, and a plate sup ported within the chamber of said hollow member but off-set at its peripheral edges inwardly from the inner surface of the side walls of said hollow member to form spaces or openings therebetween, the outer face of said plate being flat and forming a supporting surface for the hollowanember, said outer fiat face having a covering extending beyond the plane of the lower edge of the hollow member. 7

2. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a hollow member having the interior chamber thereof adapted to be placed in communication with a vacuum producing means, and a plate supported within the chamber of member but offset at its peripheral edges inwardly from the inner surface of the side walls of said hollow member to form spaces or openings therebetween, a flexible strip applied to the exterior surface of the side walls of said hollow member, and having its lower edge extending below the plane of the lower edge of said side walls, the outer face of said plate being flat and having a covering forming a supporting surface for said hollow member, and extending beyond the plane of the lower edge of said flexible strip.

In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a hollow member having a adapted to be placed in communication with a vacuum producing means, transversely extending members arranged within said chamber, a plate detachably connected to said transversely extending members, the outer face of said plate having a covering extending beyond the edges of the side walls of said hollow fralhe,-the edges of said plate being spaced from the sides of the hollow frame.

l. in a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a hollow member having a frame forming an extension. the interior chamber thereof adapted to be placed in communication with a vacuum producing means. transversely extending supporting members arranged within said chamber and a plate detachably connected to said transversely extending members, the outer face of said plate forming a supporting surface for the hollow member and its extension, the peripheral edges of said plate being off-set, inwardly, from the opposc(l g urfaccs of the walls of said hollow membqr'cxtcnsion to. form slots o'r openings thcrcbetwccn. the outer face of said plate having a covcring extending beyond the lower edges of the side walls of the hollow member extension, and a flexible strip applied to the exterior surface of the side walls of the hollow member extension and having its outer edge extending beyond the lower edge of said side wall.

5. Tu ayacuum cleaning apparatus, a holhollow frame forming, an extension, the interior chamber thereof bination with an low member adapted to be connected to a vacuum producing means, a supporting member having a lower face to rest upon the surface to be cleaned, an inclosing frame for said supporting member, said frame offset from said supporting member at the pcripheral edges of the latter, to form slots or openings between said peripheral edges and frame, said slots or openings delivering into the interior of the hollow member.

6. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a hollow member adapted to be connected to a vacuum producing means, a supporting member having a lower face to rest upon the surface'to be cleaned, and an inclosing fame for said supporting member, said fame being off-set from said supporting member to form slots or openings at the peripheral edges of said supporting member, said slots or openings delivering into the interior of the hollow member, the plane of said supporting face lying parallel with and extending beyond the plane of the lower surface of the outer bounding walls of said slot or opening.

In a vacuum cleaning a paratus, a head having a chamber, to be connected to a vacuum producing means, and a central slot in the lower face thereof, in combination with an attachment adapted to be removably applied to said face, said attachment having a face to rest upon the surface to be cleaned and a surrounding frame off-set from said face to provide slots or openings at the peripheral edges of said face, said slots or openings being in communication with the central slot in the face of said head.

8. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a hollow head adapted to be connected with a vacuum producing means and having a central slot in the lower face thereof, in comattachment having retainmg devices for detachable connection of said attachment to the head, said attachment having a supporting face to rest alpon the surface to be cleaned, and asurrounding frame therefor, said frame being off-set from the face to provide elongated slots at the peripheral edges of said supporting face, said slots being in communication with the central slot in the head face.

9. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a hollow head adapted to be connected with a vacuum producing means and having a central slot in the lower face thereof, in combination with an attachment having retaining devices for detachable connection with said head, said attachment having a supporting face, to rest upon the surface to be cleaned, and a surrounding frame therefor, said frame being off-set from the face to provide elongated slots or openings at the peripheral edges of said supporting face, the plane of said supporting face lying paraliei with but extended beyond .the plane witnesses, of the lower edges of the outer bounding 1911. Walls of said s10ts, said last mentioned slots being in commu nication with the central on this 11th day of March, A. D.,

' GEORGE D. ROEDELS.

Witnesses 5 slot in the lower face of the head.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set A. Boss JARMAN,

S. E. DARBY.

my hand in the presence of the subscribing 

